| Down
Minors survive late onslaught - 13/07/03
Down 6-03 Fermanagh 3-11
The Down Ladies Minor team came through a tough
and bruising quarter-final clash with Fermanagh in Irvinestown last Thursday night.
Fermanagh started the brighter when they raced into a three-point lead. However
that was short lived when Kyla Trainor grabbed the first of her three goals after
powering her way through from midfield. This was doubled almost immediately when
Sarah Curtis pounced on a poor Fermanagh clearance to fire to the back of the
net. This was leads that Down were never to lose and although Fermanagh did score
add a few further points, Down went further ahead when Jenna Connell scored a
goal and a point in quick succession. The Down defence worked tirelessly and refused
to be intimidated by Fermanagh's over eager forwards. Louise Clarke had an outstanding
first half along with Jenny Fitzsimmons. Eilis McConville played her role as captain
and popped up for an excellent score before Kyla Trainor bagged another goal just
before half time to leave the score Down 4-2 to Fermanagh 1-6.
The second
half started at the same ferocious pace as the first. Sarah Venny had just been
introduced when she had to retire due to a nasty shoulder injury and with a number
of key players performing below par the signs didn't look good for Down. Fermanagh
had Down under the cosh continuously for most of the second half and it took some
stern defending from all especially Shona Mulholland and Catherine MacFerran to
deny Fermanagh certain scores. McConville began to assert her influence on the
game and along with Eliza Downey and that girl Clarke again they took control
of the back line to stem the Fermanagh onslaught. They finally got their just
reward whenever Downey broke free to set Trainor on her way for her third goal
of the match. This was quickly followed by another goal by Joleen Branagan. Down's
continued pressure earned them a free from 40 yards, which Emma O'Reilly dispatched
over the bar. Although this put seven points between the teams, with 10 minutes
to go, this turned out to be the winning point.
Fermanagh responded immediately
when an excellent point black save rebounded back to a Fermanagh forward. Indeed
the Down custodian pulled off a number of exceptional saves throughout the second
half to keep Down in contention. The Down bench did get a brief scare when the
keeper almost did a 'Barthez' and cleared a goal bound shot with a volley. In
the dying minutes Fermanagh were rewarded a dubious penalty which they duly scored.
This put one point between the teams and set the game up for an exciting finish
with Down holding out on a score line of 6-3 to 3-11.Best for Down were, Rachael
McCallum in goals, Louise Clarke and Eilis McConville. The girls go forward into
the Ulster semi-final where they meet Monaghan on July 29th.
TEAM: R
McCallum, J Fitzsimmons, L Clarke, C MacFerran, O McFerran, E McConville (0-1),
S Mullholland, J Connell (1-1), G Gibney, E O'Reilly(0-1), E Downey, O McKibben,
J Branagan (1-0), S Curtis (1-0), K Trainor (3-0).
Best wishes to Sarah
Venney and a speedy recovery with return to action soon.
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